Do as I say but not as I do

Today Passenger Focus published the results of its Spring 2009 Passenger Satisfaction Survey.

One of the questions the watchdog asked passengers was "How well the train company dealt with delays?".

Perhaps a question that Passenger Focus could profitably put to it's DafT paymaster, judging by this lacklustre response given in the Upper House yesterday by Lord Adonis:

Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat)
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 14 May (WA 239), when the announcement will be made on the placing of the order for the 202 new diesel train carriages.

Lord Adonis (Secretary of State, Department for Transport; Labour)
The procurement process for new diesel multiple unit vehicles is still underway and an announcement will be made later this year.

Indeed - according to DafT's own timetable the announcement on the preferred bidder should have been made in April this year.

No matter, the noble Lord now glibly assures Parliament that the announcement will be made "later this year."

Small comfort to overcrowded passengers but emblematic of the Department's sorry approach to dealing with delays, especially when they are entirely of its own making.

UPDATE: This from an anonymous reader...

You might as well add lying to the charge-sheet.

Originally DafT promised Northern that they would get 180 additional vehicles now it's down to just 106.

It's caused fury here in the North West and makes page two of tonight's Manchester Evening News.